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Scotland Leading Way on Emissions Cuts

Scotland has achieved the second-highest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Western Europe, according to the latest official figures. Out of the EU-15 countries, only Sweden has delivered higher cuts. The news comes after emissions reporting statistics showed Scotland had exceeded its own world-leading targets six years early, prompting a pledge from leaders to up the ante, Scotsman.com reported. The latest data, which include international aviation and shipping but not offshore operations, show that source emissions have fallen by nearly 40% north of the border from 1990 to 2014. Reductions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the same period were 34.2%, 17.9% and 16.5% respectively. Scotland has been praised for setting the world’s toughest climate change ambitions–for emissions cuts of 42% from the 1990 baseline by 2020. Now First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to raise the bar after a 45.8% cut in emissions for reporting against targets was attained. Sturgeon confirmed a new 2020 target to reduce emissions by at least 50% since 1990 will be set.